Danum Valley Conservation Area
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🐸 Wallace's Flying Frog Gliding OverheadDanum Valley Conservation Area is a vast lowland rainforest situated in the eastern region of Sabah, Malaysia. This ancient jungle features dense canopy layers, towering dipterocarp trees, and muddy earthen trails winding through steep river valleys, distinguishing it from fragmented secondary forests nearby.
4.960° N 117.719° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
Bornean Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus
★ 
Maroon Leaf Monkey
Presbytis rubicunda
★ 
Helmeted Hornbill
Rhinoplax vigil
★ 
Horsfield's Tarsier
Cephalopachus bancanus
📊 Most Spotted
File-eared Tree Frog
Polypedates otilophus
Borneo Forest Dragon
Gonocephalus bornensis
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros
Little Spiderhunter
Arachnothera longirostra
North Philippine Temple Pitviper
Tropidolaemus subannulatus
Brown-Striped Tree Frog
Polypedates macrotis
Slender-billed Crow
Corvus enca
Harlequin Tree Frog
Rhacophorus pardalis
Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
Green Crested Lizard
Bronchocela cristatella
White-crowned Shama
Copsychus stricklandii
Common Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
⭐ Iconic Species
★ Bornean Orangutan
Pongo pygmaeus
★ Maroon Leaf Monkey
Presbytis rubicunda
★ Horsfield's Tarsier
Cephalopachus bancanus
📊 Most Spotted
Least Pygmy Squirrel
Exilisciurus exilis
Sunda Flying Lemur
Galeopterus variegatus
Malay Civet
Viverra tangalunga
Prevost's Squirrel
Callosciurus prevostii
Asian Elephant
Elephas maximus
Sambar
Rusa unicolor
North Bornean Gray Gibbon
Hylobates funereus
Pale Giant Squirrel
Ratufa affinis
Crab-eating Macaque
Macaca fascicularis
Common Palm Civet
Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Small-toothed Palm Civet
Arctogalidia trivirgata
Mainland Leopard Cat
Prionailurus bengalensis
⭐ Iconic Species
📊 Most Spotted
Rhinoceros Hornbill
Buceros rhinoceros
Little Spiderhunter
Arachnothera longirostra
Slender-billed Crow
Corvus enca
Black-and-yellow Broadbill
Eurylaimus ochromalus
White-crowned Shama
Copsychus stricklandii
Lesser Green Leafbird
Chloropsis cyanopogon
Green Imperial-Pigeon
Ducula aenea
Spectacled Bulbul
Rubigula erythropthalmos
Whiskered Treeswift
Hemiprocne comata
Malaysian Pied-Fantail
Rhipidura javanica
Yellow-rumped Flowerpecker
Prionochilus xanthopygius
Great Argus
Argusianus argus
📊 Most Spotted
Borneo Forest Dragon
Gonocephalus bornensis
North Philippine Temple Pitviper
Tropidolaemus subannulatus
Green Crested Lizard
Bronchocela cristatella
Common Water Monitor
Varanus salvator
Flat-tailed House Gecko
Hemidactylus platyurus
Spotted House Gecko
Gekko monarchus
Gray Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis caudolineatus
White-banded Narrow-disked Gecko
Gekko albofasciolatus
Triangle Keelback
Xenochrophis trianguligerus
Rough Mabuya
Eutropis rudis
Ornate Earless Agama
Aphaniotis ornata
Paradise Flying Snake
Chrysopelea paradisi
📊 Most Spotted
File-eared Tree Frog
Polypedates otilophus
Brown-Striped Tree Frog
Polypedates macrotis
Harlequin Tree Frog
Rhacophorus pardalis
Wallace's Flying Frog
Rhacophorus nigropalmatus
Brown Tree Frog
Leptomantis harrissoni
Tree Hole Frog
Metaphrynella sundana
Chasen's Frilled Tree Frog
Kurixalus chaseni
Rough Guardian Frog
Limnonectes finchi
Yellow-spotted Narrow-mouthed Frog
Chaperina fusca
_Figure_4_(cropped).jpg/330px-Amnirana_nicobariensis_(10.3897-evolsyst.2.27020)_Figure_4_(cropped).jpg)
Nicobar Cricket Frog
Amnirana nicobariensis
Horned Toad
Megophrys nasuta
Dulit Flying Frog
Zhangixalus dulitensis
Recent sightings in Danum Valley Conservation Area
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Frugivore Canopy Foraging Peak
During the early months, fruiting trees draw heavy canopy activity where Bornean Orangutans and Prevost's Squirrels actively forage for high-energy forest resources.
2Nocturnal Rainforest Activity Surge
As darkness falls, the forest comes alive with hunting predators, allowing keen observers to spot Horsfield's Tarsiers and Malay Civets navigating the understory and lower branches.
3Understory Herpetofauna Breeding Congregation
Increased moisture prompts higher amphibian and reptile movement, bringing Brown-Striped Tree Frogs and Bornean Keeled Green Pit Vipers into close proximity around breeding sites.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Frugivore Canopy Foraging Peak
- 2Nocturnal Rainforest Activity Surge
- 3Understory Herpetofauna Breeding Congregation
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
In the first 30 minutes, we spotted our first Red giant flying squirrel, Thomas’ giant flying squirrel, and Three-striped palm civet.
We also saw red leaf monkeys, which are endemic to Borneo and were a new species for us.
At the lodge we did see wild orangutans making nests in the trees about 30m high.
The leech was the wildlife hit of the hike – the only other wildlife we glimpsed that day was a lone red leaf monkey high above us in the treetops.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Danum Valley Conservation Area?
The most likely sightings are Maroon Leaf Monkey (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), File-eared Tree Frog (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Borneo Forest Dragon (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Rhinoceros Hornbill (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers), Little Spiderhunter (seen by about 60% of wildlife watchers) — among 1017 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Danum Valley Conservation Area for wildlife?
October has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see Bornean Orangutan in Danum Valley Conservation Area?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Bornean Orangutan sighting in Danum Valley Conservation Area, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Maroon Leaf Monkey in Danum Valley Conservation Area?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a Maroon Leaf Monkey sighting in Danum Valley Conservation Area, based on 196 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Helmeted Hornbill in Danum Valley Conservation Area?
Yes — about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Helmeted Hornbill sighting in Danum Valley Conservation Area, based on 4 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Horsfield's Tarsier in Danum Valley Conservation Area?
Yes — about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Horsfield's Tarsier sighting in Danum Valley Conservation Area, based on 12 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
GoodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
